Time to privatize Turnpike collections

Over the past year, here’s what we’ve learned about the Turnpike Authority:

Toll-takers are essentially cashiers who make generous salaries and benefits, but even that hasn’t helped their disposition. They’ve been so crotchety, they’ve been forced to take civility training. Meanwhile, their bosses have wasted millions of dollars on unnecessary perks, unjustified employee bonuses, inappropriate sick leave payouts and a poorly managed health plan.

In an audit released Tuesday, state comptroller Matthew Boxer’s office found $43 million in waste, including bonuses not tied to performance ($30 million), free E-ZPass transponders ($430,000), scholarships for employees’ children ($89,000), a bowling league ($12,000) and a toll operators event ($10,000) that no one attended, and birthday bonuses.

Franceline Ehret, president of a toll-takers union, says toll takers are “entitled to a middle-class living.” The pay and benefits — and waste — are more than the state can afford, however.

In July, a governor’s panel said privatizing toll collections and other functions could save up to $42 million a year. It was a good idea then. It’s an even better idea now.